Rockford Sun

Governor JB Pritzker signed into law a $53 billion state budget on Wednesday, marking the continuation of his five-year tax-and-spend fiscal policy and resulting in nearly $1 billion in increased taxes.

State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) noted that government spending has risen by 32 percent since Governor Pritzker assumed office. “For his sixth budget, Gov. Pritzker once again chooses big government instead of helping overtaxed, struggling working families. He has forced through a record-breaking $53 billion budget that provides billions in benefits for noncitizens,” Sen. Syverson stated. “It is A LOT more of the same tax-and-spend fiscal games – and about $1 billion more in higher taxes for Illinoisans.”

Senator Syverson expressed concerns regarding the implications of such record spending on Illinois' fiscal stability. “No state or country has ever taxed its way into prosperity. When talking about the new tax increases, all we hear from the left is that they just want people to pay their fair share,” he said. “Why do taxpayers have to give up more and more of their hard-earned tax dollars? How about government learning to live within its means like working families do?”

Syverson attributed the increased spending to Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary policy, which he claims has led to unchecked expenditures aimed at providing top-level healthcare and other social services to adult noncitizens. According to Syverson, Illinois taxpayers are also shouldering costs related to noncitizen children’s healthcare, housing, cash assistance, daycare, education, and other programs.

The Fiscal Year 2025 will run from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.